Goat Cheese And Caramelized Apple Toasts Food

GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange the bread slices on 2 heavy large baking sheets. Brush olive oil over the bread slices. Bake until the crostini are pale golden and crisp, about 15 minutes.
• Blend the goat cheese and cream cheese in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Add the parsley, thyme, and lemon peel. Using the on/off button, pulse just to blend. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread the cheese mixture over the crostini. Sprinkle with the olives, chives, and more pepper. Arrange the toasts on a platter and serve.
• Do-Ahead Tip: The crostini and cheese mixture can each be prepared 2 days ahead. Store the crostini in an airtight container at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate the cheese mixture. Let the cheese mixture stand at room temperature for 1 hour to soften slightly before spreading over the crostini.

CARAMELIZED ONION, APPLE AND GOAT CHEESE MELTS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add the onions and salt and cook, tossing frequently, until the onions turn creamy and golden, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Add thyme and red-pepper flakes and stir for another 30 to 45 seconds until fragrant. Transfer the onions to a small bowl and stir in the goat cheese and olives.
• Place 4 slices of bread on the counter and divide the onion mixture among them, spreading to the edges. Top with the apple or pear slices, then the remaining bread, pressing down gently to adhere.
• Wipe the same skillet down with a paper towel, then add 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil (or more as needed to coat the bottom of the pan) and heat over medium. Working in batches, if needed, add the sandwiches and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side, pressing them gently to compress them as they cook, until the bread is toasted and deeply golden brown. If working in batches, add more olive oil as needed and cook remaining sandwiches. Slice and serve.

GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED APPLE TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast for 10 minutes, until golden and fragrant. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
• In a medium bowl, mash the goat cheese with the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Fold in the chopped pecans.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet. Add the apples and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are caramelized and tender, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the water and transfer the apples to a plate.
• Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8 inches from the heat. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and brush both sides with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Broil the bread, turning once, until golden and toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Spread the goat cheese mixture on the toast and spoon the apples on top. Sprinkle very lightly with coarse salt. Cut each toast in half diagonally and serve right away.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS, APPLE, WALNUTS AND GOAT CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Onions and Apples -- In a large non stick skillet on medium high heat, add the butter, olive oil, onions and start to caramelize. Cook about 5 minutes until they start to brown. Then add the apples, thyme, salt and pepper to taste and cook for approximately 20 minutes until the apples get very soft and brown and almost appear to melt "spreadable.".
• Crust -- I use a baking sheet for this and spray with Pam. Then spread out and lightly roll the pizza dough into a rectangle to fit in the baking pan. Make sure to press the dough out and then prick with a fork all over the crust. This will prevent the crust from "puffing up" or "bubbling" when you cook it. I mix the olive oil, garlic and pepper and brush over the top of the crust and cook at 425 for about 10-12 minutes until it gets slightly brown. Remove from the oven and slightly cool.
• Topping -- Spread the apple onion mixture over crust and garnish with the goat cheese and walnuts fine chopped.
• Broil -- I like to broil the pizza for just 3-5 minutes on the middle rack until the cheese starts to soften and melt.
• Serve -- Cut into squares and serve along side a salad or with any grilled dish. It is a great savory/sweet appetizer or starter dish.